At last he cleared his throat. John Jay looked up expectantly, but just
then Mars' Nat walked around the house.
"Here comes Doctor Leonard," he said, nodding towards a rapidly
approaching horseman. "Howdy, Doc," he called, as the man drew rein, and
felt in his pocket for some change to pay his toll. "What's your hurry?"
"I've a call over to Elk Ridge," he answered, handing him the money and
quickly starting on. Then he pulled his horse up with a sudden jerk.
"Here, Chadwick," he called, pitching the heavy overcoat he carried on
his arm in the direction of the porch, "I wish you'd keep this for me
until I get back. I'll be along this way before dark, and it's so much
warmer than I thought it would be that such a heavy coat is a nuisance."
"All right," responded the toll-keeper. "Here! John Jay," he ordered, as
the doctor disappeared around the bend in the road, "pick up the
gentleman's coat and hang it on a chair inside the door there." Then he
stuck his hands in his pockets, and whistling to his dog, walked off
across the fields.
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